Hen-protector.



Patented Oct. 28, |902.

1. F. slams. HEN PROTECTGB.

(Application led July 31. 1901.)

y2 Sheets-*Sheet witnesses- Tammo.. wAsnmaToN u c Pate'nted Oct. 28, 1902.

2 sheets-sheet 2` J. F. SIEMS. HEN PROTECTOR. (Application filed July 31, 1901.)

(No Model.)

5 nogbwbq wAsmucToN. u. c.

following to be a full, clear, and exactdethat presented in Fig. l, wherein it will be UNrTnD :STATES-fv JOHANN FRIEDRICH SIEMS,

Peirn'NT OFFICE.

OF COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA.

HEN-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 712,339, dated October 28, 1902.

Application led July 31,1901.`

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be kit known that'l, JOHANN FRIEDRICH SIEMS, a citizen Vof the United States, residing at'Columbus, in the county of Platte and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Divisionalreeding- I-Ieu Protectors; and I do hereby declare the scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to what I shall for convenience term a hen-protector; and it consists of certain novel features of combination and construction of parts, the preferred materialization whereof will be fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application.

The prime object of my inventionis to provide an appliance which will be found very desirable, cheap, and efficient, that will reliably perform its office of sheltering and protecting any desired number of sitting hens or other fowl and insure that they will be guarded against being disturbed during the period of incubation.

A further object of my invention is to disclose `certain plans of construction which may be adopted that will materiallylessen the cost of production of my improved natural-hen incubating appliance.

Other objects and advantages will be clearly apparent from the following specilication,ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention complete, showing `a portion of the covering thereof removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of Fig. l on line m no. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the preferred manner of cutting or preparing the partitionboards and end sections for that form of incubator illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of construction from observed that the capacity of the incubator is doubled by locating a series of nests in each side thereof. Fig. Gis a perspective detail view showing another form of construction from that presented in Fig. 1, illustratvessels containing food and drink.

serai No. 70,423. (No model.;

ing another method which may be adopted for opening and closing the series of doors. Fig. '7 is a detail view showing two of the doors illustrated in Fig. 6 disposed in aclosed position, while Fig. 8 is a similar view showing one of the doors opened or elevated.

In order to readily refer to the various details of my invention and the copera'ting accessories, said parts will be designated by numerals, the same numeral applying to a similar part throughout the several views.

While in many instances artificial means may be adopted to complete the process of incubation, as by the use of any of the wellknown incubating-machines, I prefer under most circumstances to utilize the mother hen for this purpose, and it therefore becomes desirable and important that the hen or other fowl'shall be safely housed and fully protected against being disturbed by surrounding adverse conditions; and with this object in view it may be briefly stated that my invention consists in a convenient form of appliance whereby the hen may be provided with an individual compartment containing a nest and also connected with a suitable passage or run, which latter may be utilized for the purpose of exercise and to gain access to Inmaterializing my invention I provide a suitable housing comprising the end sections l and the side walls 2, properly secured together in any preferred Way, it being understood that the area land depth of the compartment to be provided may be of any desired size or capacity. It will be further obvious that my improved naturalhen incubator may be made so as to have what may be termed a single capacity, as illustrated in Fig. l, or such capacity may be doubled, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In Fig. l it will be'observed that I have provided a series of boxflike compartments arranged along one side of the incubator, said compartments being separated from the interior bymeans'of the partition-walls 3, each of said walls being cut away, as indicated by the numeral 4, to provide an opening through which the hen may pass into the passage-Way, extending transversely across the incubator and separated from each other by a series'of partition-walls 5, extending entirely across from wall to wall 2, all of said parts being properly secured in any preferred way. Each of the box-like compartments formed by the partition-walls 3 and 5 and the adjacent exterior wall is designed as a receptacle for the hen or other fowl, a suitable nest being provided within said compartment adapted to receive the eggs to be subjected to the incubating process. Each of the nest-compartments is provided with a suitable individual door 6, preferably connected to the wall 2 by a hinge or hinges 7 in order that said doors may be readily opened outward, a proper inclination or pitch being given to each of said doors by means of the inclined or beveled section 8, nailed to a contiguous part of the end walls 1 and the partitions 5, as will be obvious.

By the arrangement just described it will be observed that the partition-walls will insure that suitable runs or passage-ways will be provided to coperate with each individual nest, and since a passage-way for the hen is formed in the partition-walls 3 it is clear that the hen may freely pass from the nest into the passage-way, which is preferably left open for the admission of light and air and at the same time properly inclosed to prevent the escape of the fowl. I therefore prefer to provide a covering of wire, as indicated by the numeral 9. It will be understood that suitable vessels for food and drink may be provided, as indicated by the numerals 10 and 11 in Fig. 1, while the outer ends of the runs or 'passage-ways are rendered conveniently accessible by suitable doors 12, hinged to a st-rip 13, as indicated by the numeral 14.

It becomes desirable to provide a convenient form of door for each of the openings in the partitions 3, and with this object in View I provide a plurality of door-sections l5, each connected to or forming an integral part of the controlling-shaft 16, the said doors being located upon said shaft at such a point that each of the doors may be brought simultaneously in. position by a proper movement of the shaft 16, so that all of the openings will be closed, while said openings may all be readily opened by a reverse movement of the shaft 16.

In order to provide efficient and convenient means for longitudinally moving the shaft 16, I adopt the controlling-lever 17, pivotally connected to the bracket 18, attached to a convenient point upon the end section 1 and also connected pivotally to the outer end of the shaft 16, as indicated by the numeral 19, a suitable slot or opening being formed in the lever in order to compensate for the relative position of the shaft and lever during the operation of said parts.

I prefer to so form the individual door-sections 15 that they will not completely cover or inclose the openings formed in the partitions 3, as better results will follow when the doors 15 are of less extent than said openings,

thereby insuring that proper ventilation and light will be afforded the occupant of the nestcompartment.

In order to further facilitate a free circulation of air, each of the door-sections 15 may be provided with a plurality of apertures 21, it being understood that said door-sections may be an integral part of the shaft 16, as by forming all of said parts from a single board properly cut away, or said doors may be separately formed and connected to the shaft 16, as by nailing or otherwise securing the same thereto, and if this last method is adopted better results would probably follow if the grain of the wood forming the doors extended at right angles to the grain of the wood forming the shaft 16, as is obvious. It is also clear that the doors may be formed of tin or other suitable material, if desired. The shaft 16, with its accompanying doors, is securely mounted in position b v directing the doors carried by said shaft downward. in proper position to lie parallel and in contact with the partitions 3, one side of the shaft being thus disposed against the upwardly-extending ends of the partitions 3, while the other side of said shaft contacts with the board section 22, which extends entirely across the top of my incubator from end to end and may be secured in place, as by nailing or otherwise securing the same to the contiguous part of the end sections and partitions 5, it being understood that a suitable space shall be left between said board section 22 and the partitions 3 to accommodate and permit the freev movement of the shaft 16 with its accompanying door-sections. It is therefore obvious that the operator may very readily open and as quickly close all of the openings in the partitions 3 by a simple movement of the controlling-lever 17, provided for this purpose. It becomes desirable at certain times during the day to permit the hens or other fowls inclosed to leave their nests for exercise and food, and this may be readily accomplished by opening all of the doors at certain periods and again closing them at the proper hour.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide a bottom for the incubator, though ordinarily it may be placed directly upon the ground. It is thought that the best form of bottom may be made of galvanized wire-netting, as this will exclude moles or other burrowing enemies of the fowls and at the same time guard against undue deterioration.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the same form of natural-hen incubator as shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the incubator illustrated in Fig. 5 has a double capacity, inasmuch as it will be observed that each side of the framework comprising the body portion of my incubator is provided with a plurality of compartments, as indicated by the numeral 23, the partition-walls 3 and 5 being substantially the same as those illustrated in Fig. 1, except, of course, that the partitions 5 shall be of greater length. In practice it is thought that ICO IZO

the length of each of the runs or passage-ways connecting with the nests shall be about eight feet, more or less. By this arrangement the passage-way or run between the nests may be used in common by the two hens occupying the nests at the ends thereof, or one of the hens may be permitted Vto use the passageway for certain hours of the day by properly manipulating the door-sections by means of the controlling-shafts 16, said doors and shafts being substantially the same as described in the foregoing specification. In like manner each of the series of nests is provided with an individual door-section 6, as clearly set forth, it being understood that a central series of doors 24 are provided and properly hinged to the anchoring-section 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The shaft-sections are held against inward movement by means of the strips 26, nailed or otherwise secured to a contiguous part of the partitions 5. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated Aone of said doors in an open position, while the other door is closed, the object of the doors being to afford means for intro ducing foodand drink into the receptacles l0 and 1l.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I have illustrated another end sections 27 and the partitions 2S are pref-V erably formed of a single piece of board, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The object in thus producing the end sections and partition-walls is to economize lumber in locations where this commodity is scarce and expensive.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that one edge of the board may be so sawed or beveled as to produce the section 29, which latter may be in turn beveled at its extreme corner to produce the. point 30, which latter may be utilized in the manner set forth in said View.

It will of course be understood that I reserve the right to form these partitions and end sections in any preferred Way, though for the purpose of economy I have illustrated and described the plan as immediately sety forth, Each of the partition-walls 3 is provided with a suitable opening 31, corresponding to the opening formed by the offset 4 in Fig. 1, and in order to provide a convenient form of door or closure for this opening I have adopted the vertically-sliding door-sec tions 32, which are adapted to move in vertical guideways formed by the cleats 33, located at a convenient point upon the partition-walls 25, and in order to provide reliablyefficient means for simultaneously opening these doors I form the anchoring-ear 34, attached at a convenient point to the board section 35, 'which latter is secured to a contiguous part of the partition-Walls 28 and end sections 27 Pivotally connected to the ears or brackets 34 is the bell-crank 36, operatively connected to the controlling-rod 37, which latter extends entirely across the incubator-frame contiguous to all of the vdoors and in connection with the bell-crank thereof, said rod being operatively connected to the controlling-lever 38, pivotally mounted in the bracket 39, attached at a convenient point to the end section 27. The other end of the bell-crank is pivotally connected to the linksection 40, the opposite end of the link being pivotally attached to the upper part of its respectve door 32, and it is obvious that by an outward movement of the lever 38 the bellcrank 36 will be so manipulated as to cause the link 40 to elevate its respective door, While an inward movement of said lever will insure that all of the doors will be simultaneously depressed or disposed in a closed position.

In Fig. SI have shown the position of the bell-crank and cooperating parts when the door is in an open position, while in Fig. 7 I have illustrated the relative arrangement of the parts when the doors are closed, it being clearly apparent that all of the doors may be instantly operated as desired, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the attendant to separately open each individual door.

I prefer to connect the doors 6 to the side walls 2, as the inner edge of the door will thus rest upon'the upper edge 'of the partition-walls 3, while the shaft 16 will rise above the edge of the door and prevent the latter from being casually blown open by the wind. It will be seen that my improved naturalhen incubator may be slightly increased in wid th, and thereby double its capacity, without very materially increasing the cost, inasmuch as very little additional material is required for a double incubator over that necessary to produce the single form of incubator illustrated in Fig. 1.

While I have described the preferred construction and combination of the various lparts deemed necessaryin carrying out my also clear that the capacity may be increased. v

My improved natural-hen incubator will be found very desirable not only for the purpose of protecting a sitting fowl during the process of incubation, but will in many instances It will also be understood that y Ioo l IIO actually induce the fowl to sit when safely inclosed and housed against outside disturbing causes.

The various parts of my improved naturalhen incubator may be very cheaply and expeditiously constructed even by a person who is not skilled in such Work by following the constructions and plans hereinbefore set forth, and having thus fully described the construction and manner of using myimproved incubator further reference to the details thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein described hen -protector and brooder consisting of a main compartment having a pluralityof individual nest-compartments, the wall of each nest-compartment being cut away at its upper corner, guides Within said compartment; vertically movable doors mounted to move in said guides; a xed strip 35 adjacent to said compartments; ears rising from said strip one for each door, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted in each of said ears, a reciprocatory controlling-rod parallel with said strip and pivotally connected with the short arms of the bell-crank levers; inclined links pivotally connected at one end to the central upper portions of the doors and their other ends pivotally connected with the long arms of the bell-crank levers, the pivots of the bell-crank levers, and the pivots of the links with the doors being upon opposite sides of the controlling-rod, and a controlling-lever pivotally mounted near the base of the compartment having a longitudinally-disposed slot in which Works a pin carried by the outer end of the controlling-rod, all substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN FRIEDRICH SIEMS. XVitnesses:

W. T. FITZ GERALD, WM. A. EASTERDAY. 

